TIMELINE: Major doping scandals in cycling

(Reuters) - Chronology of major doping scandals in cycling in recent years.

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1998 Tour de France

Festina medical team member Willy Voet is arrested at the French border before the start of the Tour after customs officers seized banned substances, including the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO).

Festina are kicked out of the race and their riders later admit to taking performance-enhancing drugs. Top rider Richard Virenque is banned for nine months, team director Bruno Roussel and Voet are fined and given suspended jail sentences.

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1999 Giro d'Italia

Tour and Giro champion Marco Pantani of Italy is expelled while leading race after failing a blood haematocrit test.

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2001 Giro d'Italia

France's Pascal Herve is retired from the Giro by his Alexia team after failing a test for EPO. Mercatone Uno rider Riccardo Forconi does not start 17th stage after failing a dope test.

Police officers search the rooms of riders from all 20 teams confiscating medicines. Organizers cancel the 18th stage when riders call a meeting to discuss the raids.

Second-placed Dario Frigo is sacked by Fassa Bortolo after illegal drugs are found in his room. Frigo later admits to carrying them as security in case he needed a boost during the final stages of the race.

An insulin syringe found in a room where Pantani stayed leads to a six-month ban for the Italian.

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2002 Giro d'Italia